Black Sparrow Tattoo Studio

I came here to get some work done back in December 2012 when I first got stationed in pensacola. This shop seemed the most legitimate one from shopping around. I was extremely dissappointed.  I scheduled an appointment with Betsy to do a leg piece.  When she was looking at my other tattoos while I was meeting with her she was telling me how my half sleeve from one of the best artist in San Diego was poorly done and how the artist didn't know how to to use the needle properly, etc. My tattoos were done by some of the best award winning artist in San Diego and Hawaii and to hear some pensacola artist, an apprentice at that, tell me they were bad kind of mad me a little mad but I figured I would continue with it and get the ink.  

Well then I was told that using aquaphor on my tattoos is bad as well, I prefer it and so do a lot of other artist. I have had over 40 hours of tattoo work and know how my body heals up. They swore it was bad to use and even went so far as to say that their work is only free touch ups if you follow their proper after care.

Anyway I scheduled my consult for a leg piece a week prior. Decided I didn't want a leg piece and wanted something on my back instead. I emailed Betsy three different times with no response from her. I show up the day of my scheduled appointment and took off work to get it done since I was expecting a fairly long session.  Well I get there and Betsy tells me "sorry your emails went to my spam box, I didn't see them until this morning"  maybe they did, maybe they didn't but I really doubt that my email address which is a standard gmail address went to her spam box. That is the oldest excuse in the book. You can be the judge on whether they did or not.  

The point is even if they did go to her spam box, she also didn't have any drawings made up for the leg piece either.  So either she chose to ignore the emails or just not create drawings for the piece we originally thought up. Not really sure.  If there was any drawings at all it wouldn't have been as upsetting.

So she takes me into the room and starts drawing on my back and tracing the design on the paper. Then she tells me she's got to go pick up her kid from school and I could come back in an hour or two. I had an appointment scheduled at 100pm and sat in the waiting room until close to 130 and am now being told she's got to go pick up her kid from school.  Really? I couldn't believe it. I have never been to a shop where they schedule appointments and then just tell the customer come back later I got to pick up my kid.  I'm getting pretty irritated at this point. First I waited in the waiting room for over half an hour, then no drawings, then told to come back in a few hours cause she's got to pick up her kid and then she will start. In my mind if I put a deposit down for an appointment the appointment should be done. A business is a business and the most upsetting part was this. Oh you have an appointment, a time scheduled that you paid for, and have already been in the shop for a few hours? "Sorry come back In a few hours picking up my kid" the most absurd thing I have ever heard.

So I go back home and wait for a phone call. The lady from the front desk of the shop calls me two hours later after I'm at home waiting to return to tell me that Betsy can't do my tattoo today.  Now I'm upset because I waited and took time off of work and paid a deposit for a tattoo on this day.  On top of it all I sat waiting to come back. A simple phone call saying sorry cant make the appointment today in the morning would have worked but instead they wasted my time.

I politely asked for a refund of my one hundred dollar deposit and was told no it was non refundable. I found this to be very unfair. I paid for a service on a certain date and was not given it and not refunded the deposit.

Miguel was helpful and offered to personally refund me the 100.00 from his own pay but said Betsy deserved to keep my deposit. His opinion and his choice. I was on leave and didn't feel like going back to the shop so I never did go get my money from him. Miguel also told me I should've called the shop to make sure she got my emails. I guess I could take the blame of some of it for not calling but the other things still remain.

Personally it didn't feel right taking Miguel's money when he didn't have anything to do with it. I was more upset about the shenanigans of picking up kids from school, saying emails went to spam boxes (oldest excuse in the book), and being told my other art was done poorly.etc.  

You be the judge if you want to get tattooed here. Personally I wouldn't. It's a mediocre shop trying to pass off as elite level IMO.  Read the reviews talk to the artist and make your own decision, my own experiences were negative.

ALSO FROM READING THE REVIEWS IT SEEMS THE ONLY GOOD ONES COME FROM PEOPLE WHO WERE GETTING THEIR FIRST TATTOO

I could not be happier! I got a tattoo of the crackled dark knight symbol on my foot in a grey and my husband got the same in black on his arm and shoulder. The detail is amazing! Andrew did both, and we had a wonderful time. The shop is one of the best I have seen. I would definitely go back! Just make sure you pay with cash to avoid card fees.

I researched online many parlors and felt Black Sparrow was the right fit. Went in to talk to an artist about my design (this was my first) and the atmosphere is very inviting and clean. Betsy took the time to help with my design and placement even though she was not going to do the work. Andrew was very friendly. They both calmed me down. The event day, Miguel was extremely awesome with me. He answered all my questions and did a beautiful job. I recommend Black Sparrow to anyone especially you first timers! It's clean, professional, friendly & helpful staff, and the artist really respect their work! Thank you guys!